Where you can see your best Disney friends this week

He is a prince now, but Grant Marron got his start as a giant chili pepper.

The Arizona native plays Prince Hans, of “Frozen” fame, in the upcoming Disney on Ice Reach for the Stars performances at U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati Oct. 26-29. But his first on-ice appearance was a bit less glamorous.

“My parents were on the local organizing committee for the 1993 U.S. Figure Skating Championships and they had this giant chili pepper costume – it was the mascot for nationals,” Marron said. “I wanted to play in it, but they told me I wasn’t allowed in it unless I was skating in it.”

The then 8-year-old knew what he had to do – start skating. Twenty-five years later – after skating competitively for more than a decade – he is still lacing up his skates, now as a Disney on Ice cast member.

“When I was a competitive skater, I never thought I’d go into show skating,” Marron said. “But I love it and I’ve learned a great many lessons. I’ve learned a new side of skating – how to perform.”

Marron has portrayed the prince that crowds love to hate for several seasons. This Reach for the Stars tour, however, is making its North American debut this fall after a lengthy international tour.

“I have the best of both worlds because I play a typical prince at first and then a villain,” he said. “It’s a lot of fun to hear the audience boo me. I know if they don’t like me, I’m doing my job well.”

“Frozen” is only part of the fun for the audience as Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy also share the ice with the stars of “Tangled,” “The Little Mermaid” and “Beauty and the Beast.” From the dazzling spectacle of “Be Our Guest” to the fan favorite “Let it Go” audience members of all ages will be immersed in the sights and sounds of the Disney on Ice experience.

Marron, 33, also gets to share the experience with those he loves as his sister Sarah is an ensemble skater with the show and his wife, Hollie – a former skater herself – is the tour coordinator. Skating is truly a family affair as Grant and Sarah are third generation figure skaters. Their father, in fact, became a U.S. Figuring Skating judge after he retired from skating.

“When my competitive career ended, I realized I was done competing but I wasn’t done skating,” Grant said. “Being able to share my love of skating with audiences around the world is amazing.”


DISNEY ON ICE – REACH FOR THE STARS

When: Oct. 26-27 – 7 p.m.; Oct. 28 – 11 a.m., 3 p.m., 7 p.m.; Oct. 29 – 1 p.m., 5 p.m.

Where: U.S. Bank Arena

Tickets: Start at $13, available at the U.S. Bank Arena box office or at www.ticketmaster.com

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